cwnewz.com - The Rev Mahboob Masih, a Church minister, claims he was unfairly dismissed and that the action taken against him was a case of religious discrimination.
After a lively religious debate, the radio station management took exception to the content of the discussion and Rev Masih was accused of not being "balanced enough" on air. However, Awaz FM refuses to detail anything specific he said that may have offended its listeners.
The Rev Masih and his co-presenter Afzal Umeed were discussing the views of a prominent Muslim speaker, Zakir Naik, who the Rev Masih accuses of "putting down" the Christian faith on Peace TV.
The Rev Masih says that Mr Umeed asked Asif Mall, a Christian on-air guest, about Mr Naik's remarks. Mr Mall said Mr Naik's comments showed a lack of knowledge of the Bible and of the Koran.
Mr. Mall disputed a claim by Mr. Naik that Jesus Christ was not the only prophet to be "the way, the truth and the life".
In an attempt to defuse the row, Rev Masih made an on-air aplogy. When asked by a senior official to deliever an aplogy in person at the Central Mosque in Glasgow, Rev Masih refused. He said he felt intimidated and felt his safety could have been endangered. He also insists that he had nothing to apologise to the muslims for.
He and his co-presenter were temporarily suspended for breaking the station's code of conduct. After sending a letter to the station's management committee, criticising his treatment, he was dismessed.
In the letter, he demanded "our immediate reinstatement to our radio show and a full apology".
He added: "Our comments were directed to 'insulting' and/or 'controversial' remarks made by Mr. Naik in relation to Christianity. This was no more than religious debate under the general principles of British law and within the Ofcom Code. No intemperate language was used on our show."
In a reply, Javaid Ullah, the director of the radio station, terminated the Rev Masih and his co-presenter's "voluntary agreement... with immediate effect". He said that they had "failed to remain neutral and as such allowed the guest to make comments which led in [to] offending various members of the community."
He added: "The comments made in your letter were inaccurate and not true. The tone of the letter was deemed offensive to the management of Awaz FM."
The Rev Masih says the station, which is operated by volunteers, is mostly run by Muslims and concentrates on targeting Muslim listeners.
He has also lodged a complaint with Ofcom, the radio regulator, claiming that Awaz FM is in breach of the terms of its licence. It alleges "discrimination against members of Asian Christian Community by the Muslim management of Awaz FM."
Awaz FM is contesting the Rev Masih's claims; and it denies that he was asked to go to a mosque to apologise for his actions.
Awaz FM asked for questions about the dispute to be put in writing, but then failed to answer any of the 14 points put to them.
Christian Web News - After analyzing national data, the UK based Jubilee Centre has found that cohabitations are rarely a long term lifestyle choice and the vast majority last only a short time before being converted into marriage or dissolving.
Christian Web News - A court in the United Kingdom has concluded that it is acceptable for British Airways to ban Christian employees from wearing cross necklaces.
Christian Web News - So many people across our nation, young people especially, are Biblically illiterate. Confusion and intimidation of the Bible's length and complexity causes many people to give up on reading the Bible altogether.
Christian Web News - Chad Williams, President of 5Q Communications, gave some great tips for an effective web ministry at the 2010 National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Nashville, TN.
Christian Web News - On Wednesday, gunmen attacked a World Vision office in Pakistan killing at least five members of the staff, leaving seven hospitalized, and one missing.
Christian Web News - One of the last two of the U.S. Baptist missionaries jailed for trying to take orphans out of the country after the earthquake have been released by Haitian authorities.
Christian Web News - Could you imagine getting arrested for just striking up a conversation about religion in public? That’s what happened in 2006 to California resident Matthew Snatchko when the youth pastor initiated a conversation about God with three shoppers at the Roseville Galleria mall.
Christian Web News - On Monday, Alliance Defense Fund attorneys filed a lawsuit against Los Angeles County officials on behalf of a Christian man who was prohibited from sharing his faith on a public sidewalk outside the San Fernando Courthouse.
Christian Web News - On Sunday, on the streets of multiple cities in Spain, tens of thousands of people protested a new law that would allow abortion on demand.
Christian Web News - On Tuesday, a European court ordered Turkey to remove the religious affiliation section from citizens’ identification cards, calling the practice a violation of human rights.
Christian Web News - On Saturday, Kentucky Baptists kicked off their largest evangelism campaign ever, hoping to share the Gospel with 1.5 million households by Easter Sunday.
Christian Web News - In Pt.1 we primarily discussed the law of sowing. We talked about the seed and how God ordained seed to have life in itself from the very beginning starting in the book of Genesis. We also discussed how the whole purpose of the seed was to produce after its own kind.
Rev 13:16-18 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
Christian Web News - At a time when greed and corruption seem to run rampant and morals seem nonexistent, many people wonder where to look for role models.
For the millions of junior high, high school and college students heading back to school, the idea of returning to the classroom may be met with mixed emotions.
Christian Web News - Galatians 3:13-14. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree''), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Christian Web News - Often when we talk about sin, we use lots of examples such as abortion, homosexuality, murder, substance abuse - I could go on and on. However, I want to direct this little three letter word to the Christian who is serving God and can tell a sinner all about his or her sin. We use to call it “pointing the finger” at someone who does so many bad things.
Christian Web News - On Saturday, Kentucky Baptists kicked off their largest evangelism campaign ever, hoping to share the Gospel with 1.5 million households by Easter Sunday.
Christian Web News - At the University of Texas in San Antonio on Monday, an atheist group on campus has started a “holy book-for-porn” program.
Christian Web News - 
Rev 13:16-18 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. 
